Are you over cupcakes and mini cupcakes? Tired of the same old Starbuck’s pumpkin spice latte? Think the cronut is all played out? Then step out of your comfort zone and get ready to embrace 2017’s hottest dessert trends.
From “Mermaid” Churros to Jet Black Ice Cream, these desserts will satisfy even the savviest sweeth tooth.
Jet Black Ice Cream
Your eyes might deceive you the first time you set eyes on jet black ice cream: is that mud? Actually, the jet black ice cream trend was started with delicious flair by Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream, in New York City.
Although it looks like it would taste like chocolate, in reality, this ice cream is all coconut. Rather than using squid ink like many black desserts, this one uses charred coconut, combined with coconut flakes, coconut cream, and coconut milk to make a delectable flavor.
Macaron Ice Cream Sandwiches
The lovely French cookie known as the macaron certainly had its moment in 2016. In 2017, the cookie continues to be a hot dessert, only this time, there’s a twist: ice cream. The macaron ice cream sandwich is totally a thing and it is delicious.
While Los Angeles ice cream shop MILK did not invent the macaron ice cream sandwich, it created quite a stir with its giant versions of the tasty treat. Visitors to any of its LA locations get to pick their own flavors, or choose from things like Thai Tea ice cream between chocolate marcon cookies. Just to make it extra fun, MILK tops their concoctions with cereal like Cap’n Crunch or Fruity Pebbles.
Mermaid Churros
Churros are nothing new, but a Westminster, California shop decided to change this traditional Mexican dessert into something more whimsical by creating the Mermaid Churro.
The long churros come with a sparkly “mermaid” glaze and an extra big loop. It’s finished off with some vanilla-blueberry ice cream and some sugary beads.
Fancy Waffles
America tends to think of waffles primarily as a breakfast food. You pop some frozen waffles in the toaster, douse them in butter and syrup and go. But now America is being let in on a secret: the rest of the world is gaga for waffles. In Belgium, waffles are street food. They are denser and chewier than good old Eggo’s, and topped with powdered sugar or whipped cream. Then there are the Liège waffles of Eastern Belgium, which are mixed with chunks of sugar that caramelizes when fried.
Hong Kong style waffles are also sold on the street, but they are larger and usually divided into quarters. They are often topped with peanut butter and butter, but also can be mixed with eggs and meat. Netherlands prefers Stroopwafels, which are thin like pancakes. Stroopwafels are cut into two halves and then stuck back together with syrup in between. All of these waffles are increasingly popular in stateside restaurants, often served up with chicken for an entree, or with chocolate syrup as a dessert.
Donut Ice Cream Cones
It makes perfect sense: donuts and ice cream are both awesome, so why not put them together for a delectable treat? The traditional donut is subverted so that it becomes a tasty cone that can hold ice cream.
The dessert is a variation on the Slovak pastry, Trdelnik, which is made with grilled dough, and then filled with sugar and walnuts. A Prague cafe started the trend by replacing the walnut and sugar filling with cold ice cream. The so-called Chimney Cakes went viral, and a hot new dessert trend was born.